Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat...
We busted out the Christmas decorations shortly after Thanksgiving and the girls have been SO EXCITED ever since. (I had to use all caps to try and capture the intensity of their excitement.)
We put the nativity up and hung the stockings with care. Then it was time to pick out a tree. The girls couldn't wait to go with Daddy, but the morning they were supposed to go...
poor Brinley got the pukes.
She couldn't keep anything down, not even a sip of water. But she was devastated at the thought of missing the tree chopping, and after the most heartbreaking tears and pathetic begging I finally caved and let her go. I know that probably makes me a bad parent but if you had seen her eyes, oh my goodness! The heartbreak!
So Teya and little sickie pants accompanied Daddy to the tree farm and found this lovely pine. They chopped it down and brought it home, along with a car seat full of puke. I guess Brinley was doing all right until Taber put her back in the car and she didn't want her barf bowl on her lap so she kicked it off and then hurled all over her lap. Poor little thing.
We got her all bathed and cleaned up and she passed out on the couch.
Meanwhile the rest of us got to work decorating.
The tree they picked was tall! To get the star on, Taber stacked the stool he's standing on in this picture on top of a kitchen chair and I spotted him while he wobbled around trying to reach the top branch. Teya couldn't even watch it was so nerve wracking! Luckily he got it on without falling, but one of these days we should probably invest in a ladder. ; )
Cam thought it was all very entertaining.
And eventually Brinley woke up, feeling TONS better and joined the fun.
The girls did a great job keeping the ornaments spread out and out of Cam's reach.
Tada!!! We're ready for Christmas!
When it was finished we all oooed and aaaahed over it's awesomeness : )
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Other Christmasy activities...
Our church does an outdoor live nativity every year so we took the kiddos to see it.
They wanted to sit in the very front so they bypassed the chairs and planted themselves right on the ground. I took this picture when it was over and got a good chuckle from Cam and Brinley's faces. Cam is like, "Can't. Move. Too. Puffy." and Brinley is like, "hehehehe! I'm a pink marshmallow!"
After the show they got to go inside and meet the cast. The nativity was a great way to get the girls focused on the more meaningful parts of Christmas and remind them why we celebrate and give gifts.
Another thing we are doing this year to teach them about giving is the 12 days of Christmas. We picked a family who has been through a difficult trial recently and the girls were very excited to help cheer them up.
Taber got really excited too. He wanted to dress the girls all in black with ninja masks for ultimate stealth. I told him that this "operation" didn't require quite that level of intensity, but he still had them draw out a map and discuss silent communication tactics so they could stay under the radar and not get caught.
So far their deliveries have been a huge success. They've mastered the stealth tactics and have taken great joy in this nightly ritual. The best part is that this simple act of secret giving has suddenly switched their brains from thinking about all the things they want and wondering what they are gonna get, to thinking about others, wondering if they will like their surprise and brainstorming what we should bring them next. They always come rushing back, full of adrenaline and excitement. My mommy heart is full when I see them finding joy in giving. I guess that what getting Christmasy is really all about : )
6 comments:
Your tree is so beautiful! I can't wait to see it in person. Also, I LOVE the fact that you guys are doing the 12 days of Christmas. I wanted to have the girls do it this year too but we weren't going to be around long enough :) Maybe they can help with a few of your drops when we get out there.
Can you believe how fast Christmas came this year? I am glad you guys all seem to be feeling better and filling up your time with lots of fun activities! Your tree is awesome, and I love all the kids in the snowsuits. As much as I love Christmastime, I hate all the bundling up that comes with this time of year!
Your tree decorating sounded a lot like ours- when you pick your tree outside in a forest of trees, it just doesn't look that big! Also, we have a ladder, but we still did some crazy circus tricks holding each other to get the star on top because we were too lazy to get it out. :)
Growing up, we did the twelve days of Christmas for a family one year and it was one of my favorite Christmas memories ever. A couple of years ago we did it for a family in our ward that we just thought needed to feel welcome and loved. It was awesome and so fun how stuff like that brings you together (a lot of work, too, but worth it)! I think we're due to do something like that again soon. :)
Ok one last thing, I love Brinley's pink marshmallow picture, how can you not smile at that?? So cute.
This is just the best time of year, period - I love that Christmas is towards the end of the month so we get to decorate and have our kids be excited all month long. Love the tree - how fun to have such a tall one. And I'm so glad Brinley got to participate, even though she was sick- that would have been too sad to miss out on it. The picture of Cam sitting under the tree is a Christmas classic; also love the girls with their "tada" arms. I was laughing so hard at puffy Cam and pink marshmallow Brinley at the outdoor nativity - so cute. But my favorite might be the "operation 12 days" picture, with Taber and the girls drawing out the stealth map, because it's so something Daniel might do. Good job teaching your kids what it's all about!
I'm loving the Nativity! I was hoping to get the girls to one down the road, but missed the weekends they did it.
Your tree looks great and, of course, the kids are always adorable.
Wow! How in the world did you get the star up on top? That is one tall tree. Props to you for buying a real one. I am too lazy to string all the lights so I go for the pre-lit trees. You guys have done a great job creating memories for your little family. Hope you don't mind if I steal some of your ideas. You can tell that these girls love giving and making others happy.
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